Overseaming-machine.



PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1901.

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ITNEISEES- l PATENTED yJUN: 16,1903.

J.. M.' MERROW. OVERSBAMING- MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 30, 1901.

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PATENTBD JUNE 16, 1903.

J. M, MBRROW. OVERSBAMING MACHINE.

AP-PLIOATION FILED NOV. 30, 1901.

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UN TTED STATES Patented J' une 16, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

MERRO W MACHINE COMPANY,

OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT. n

OVERS-EANIING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 730,944, dated June16, 1903.

Application filed November 30. 1901. Serial No. 84,222. (No modeh) To@ZZ whom, it 77mg/ calimera:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. MERROW, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Merrow, Tolland county, State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Overseaming-Machines; and` I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the characters of reference markedthereon.

The particular .class ofsewing-machines to which this invention relatesis that for performing the operation of overseaming or of producing whatis commonly known as a,

buttonholestitch,7 such machines being known in the artas overseaming oroveredge machines.

The primary object of this invention is to produce a stitch of thecharacter just mentioned by means of a novel arrangement and. operationof new forms of stitch-formingimplements, and a further object of theinvention is to so arrange the said ilnplements and their drivingmechanisms and other elements of the machine immediately related theretoas to permit of very high speed and insure great durability, convenienceofoperation,

and ready accessibility for adjustment or.

' ofv its thread through the loop of the second other purposes. Y p

This invention therefore consists in certain novcl arrangements andforms and combina-v tions ot' stitch-forming implements aswell as of thedriving and supporting mechanism to the production of a variety ofoveredge and other stitches and finishes upon material of widely-variedcharacter, thus facilitating the fitting up of the machine for a widerange of work. In the said machine shown in the drawings four implementsare provided for the production of the stitch-viz., a thread- I carryingeye-pointed needle and three loop ers, two of which are thread-carrying,thus producing a three-thread stitch; but it will be apparent to thoseconversant with the present state of the art in this class of machinerythat loopers maybe provided any or all of which may or may not bethread-carrying and an overseaming-stitch of one, two, three, or fourthreads, as desired, produced without altering the driving mechanism ofthe machine.

In a machine litted'up with the aforesaid stitch-forming implements abrief description of the said implements and the manner in which theyoperate to produce a stitch is substantially as follows: The needlecarrying the first or initial thread passes its thread doubled throughthe fabric near the edge thereof, and a loop of said thread is taken bya looper beneath the work-plate and carried toward and beyond the edgeof the fabric and into the path of a looper secured to and moving withthe needle-bar. As the last-named looper rises its point enters the loopof the needle-thread which has been carried beyond the edge of thefabric and carries a loop of its own (the second) thread upwardlythrough the loop of the said needle-thread. A third ,looper carrying athird thread passes a loop thread and carries the said loop of its own(third) thread over the upper face of the fabric and into the path ofthe needle, that the said loop'may be entered by the needle initsdownward travel and secured to the fabric. The looper carrying the thirdthread in its return travel withdraws from the loop of the second threadand permits the looper carrying the second thread to shed its (thelastnamed) loop upon theloop of the third thread', and as the saidlooper carrying the second thread moves downward with the needle theloop of the iirst or needle thread held by the said looper is shed oifonto the loop of the second thread, thus forming one complete cycle ofthe stitch-forming operations, which will be more fully understood aftera more complete description of the loopers and the manner in which theyoperate.

To assist in understanding this invention,

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Fig. 6 is a plan view of the work-plate and parts immediately relatedthereto and shows in cross-section the adjacent portion ofthemachine-frame- Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating means for preventingside play of one of the looper-carriers. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of aportion of the work-plate andv also illustrates more fully the means forpreventing side play of the looper-carrier. Fig. 9 shows in plan, on anenlarged scale, anoversteaming-stitch which the machine is designed toproduce.

Like reference characters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

VReferring to the drawings, the number 10` denotes a portion of theframe of the machine, consisting of a casing located near one end of arectangular base-plate 11 and rpreferably integral therewith. The frame10 extends upwardly and is formed with an arm 10, overhanging the hasel1 and provided at its end with a plate or head portion 10". The head ofthe machine is provided with a cap formed as a separate boXvor casing,(indicated by the number 12,) secured to the head 10b by screws 12 orotherwise and adapted to contain much of the needle-bar and presser-barmechanism. The main shaft of the machine (denotedby the reference-number13) is located in the upper portion of the casing 10 and extends throughthe arm 10', being supported near its ends in suitable bearings 13 13",preferably.

bushings, the former of which bearings is located in'a boss 10C on theframe 10 and the latter, 13", in and near the end of the overhanging arm1011. mounted on one end of shaft 13 adjacent the boss 10, and a disk15, located within a chamber 10d of the head 10, is mounted on theopposite end of saidv shaft. The disk l5 is provided with a wrist-pin15, and a link 1b' connects the wrist-piu with the needle-bar 17, 4aswill be described. The box or cap 12 is recessed or chambered at 12b onthe side adjacentithe head, and the needle-bar 17 extends verticallythrough the cap 12, crossing said chamber 12b, and is capable ofreciprocating` in suitable bearings in the said cap or box.

Within the chamber 12b the needle-bar 17 is` provided with a collar orclamp 18, having a pin 13a for one end of the link 16.

It will now be understood that upon the rotation of the main shaft 13the needle-bar 17, through the intermediate mechanism of the vfeature ofthis invention. llooper 20 are shown as secured in a block 17 Adriving-wheel 14` isl ingtosupport.

disk l5 and the link 16, will be reci'procated vertically, and the disk15 is preferably provided with a suitable counterbalance 15b, asindicated in dotted lines in the drawings. To prevent play of the link16 endwise of its supporting-pins 15:L 18a, the boss or hub of the linkreceiving the pin 15 is confined between the disk 15 and anished surface12c on 4the confronting wall of the chamber 12b, while the boss or hubof the link receiving the pin 18 is confined between the clamp 18 andthe finished confronting wall of the head 10". This manner ofconstructing and assembling the needle-driving mechanism, whileedectually preventing any side play of the link 16, interferes inno wisewith its travel in performing'the office of driving the needle-bar 17.

The needle-bar 17 carries a needle 19 atits lower. end ad j ustablysecured to the said bar, and in addition thereto carries apeculiar formof looper 20, also adjustablysecured to the needle-bar 17 andconstitutingan important Thevneedle 19 and on. the lower end -of theneedle-bar 17 and preferably an integral partthereof;Y but the .exactmanner of securing such implements to the needle-bar is not essential tothe successful workingof the implements.y Said looper -2O is located atthat side of the needle y19 adjacent the frame 10 of the machine and ina line practically parallel with the main shaft 13. Near its point ofsupport the looper 2O extends downwardly parallel with the needle,

then outwardly, (toward the frame 10,) and then again downwardly, andits lower portion is doubledupon itself, such doubled: portion beingsufciently open, however, to permit the free passage ofvthread.therethrough, the

upwardly-extending point'being adjacent to Vbnt'slightly below audto theright of the nee- .dle 19 as viewed in Fig. 1. preferably. eye-pointedto carry ai thread. :Saidlooper 20 reciprocates with the needle,

The looper 20 -is and the point thereof is carried alternately Aaboveand belowthe plane of the work-plate 22 in a path near the edge of thework-plate and near the edge of any wo rk it may be serv- Workrplate 22is located beneath the overhanging arm 10' and is supported on andsecured Vto lugs 10e 10i, formed on the'said frame, additional supports11 11b,

located on the hase 11, preferably being provided in addition to thelugs 1()e 10i. Anextension 23 of the work-plate 22, hinged to the latterby the pin 24, lis provided, and such extension has formed on its underside a wall 23, which with a front wall 22a and a. rear wall 22h,locatedbeneath the plate 22 form a chamber beneath the work-plate 22 andits extension 23 for the reception of the feed and other mechanisms,which chamber may be readily opened by swinging the hinged portion 23 ofthe work-plate. A needle-plate 25, provided with the usual finger 25, islocated on the work-plate, and the presser-foot of the machine may alsobe provided with a similar zoo IIO

finger', if desired, around either or both of which stitches are formedand pass off as the stitching progresses, said finger serving to produceeven stitching at the edge of the work and also to assist in theproduction of stitches or chaining in the absence of the fabric.

Located near the base 11 in bearings 11C 11d, Fig'. 3, formed on orsecured to the said base, is a rock-shaft 26, extending at right anglesto the main shaft 13 and bearing an upwardly-extending arm 27, havingadjustably secured thereto a hook-looper 28, the office of said looperbeing to transfer a loop of the needle-thread beneath the work-plateinto the path of the looper 20. For driving the arm 27 and its looper 2Sthe shaft 13 has secured thereto within the frame a spherical eccentric13C, provided with a suit- -lin-k 32 with the arm 27. Upon rotation ofthe eccentric 13, Fig. 1, its strap and rod effect the rocking of theangle-lever 30, from which, through the link 32, rocking motion isimparted to the arm 27, carrying the looper 28.

Referring to the description of the stitchforming operation alreadyrecited, the adaptability of the needle 19 to carry its thread a, Fig.9, doubled through the fabric and of the looper 28 to transfer a loop ofthe needlethread below the fabric into the path of the looper 20 topermit aloop of the second thread I), Fig. 9, carried by the looper 20,to be passed through the said needle-thread loop will beapparent,anditnowremainsto describethemanner and means for passinga loopof the third `thread c, Fig. 9, through the loop of the second thread band into the path of the needle.

The looper carrying the third thread cis denoted bythe reference-number33, Figs. 1, 3, and 6, and in the performance of its work it isdesirable that its line of travel shall be between the paths of theneedle 19v and the looper 20, and that this may be accomplished thelooper 33 is so located that it travels in a path at an angle to theline in which the needle 19 and the looper 2O are supported andoperated, as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in which ligure thesaid needle 19 and looper 20 are shown in cross-section to betterillustrate their location with reference to the looper 33. For carryingthe looper 33 an angle-lever 34 is provided. It is supported within theframe-arm 10 upon a rod or shaft 35, which passes through the hub 34 ofthe angle-lever 34 and is in turn supported in suitable bearingsprovided therefor in the frame-arm., Shaft 35 is arranged at an angle tothe main shaft 13, the downwardly-extending arm of the angle-lever 34passing through an opening in the under side of the frame-arm 10. Saidlever 34 preferably carries an extension 34h, to which in turn thelooper 33 is adj ustably secured, the extension 34b being separable fromthe arm proper to facilitate the operation of assembling the mechanismand for convenience in construction as well as to permit of making thearm extension 34b of material especially adapted for its purposes. Theshorter horizontallyextending arm of the angle-lever 34 is connected bya universal joint with the upper end of an eccentric-rod 36, the lowerend of which rod is provided with a strap inclosing a sphericaleccentric 37 on the shaft 13. Thus the rotation of the shaft 13 andeccentric 37 through the strap and rod 36 effect the oscillation of thelever 34 and the travel of the looper 33. It will be seen that thelooper 33 traveling in the manner described is well adapted to carry aloop of its (the third) thread c through a loop of the second thread b(when the looper 20 is in a suitable position) and into the path of theneedle to be entered thereby to complete the stitch-forming operationhereinbefore recited.

The needle 19 and the looper 2O are adjustably secured to the needle-bar17, and the loopers 28 and 33 are also adjustably secured to theirrespective carriers, as before stated, to enable the stitch-formingimplements to be properly set relatively to each other. In addition tothe adjustability of the looper 2S in its carrier 27 the carrier itselfis also capable of adjustment, s aid adjustment being preferably securedby threading the end portions of the connecting-rod 32 in oppositedirections, as shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and (i, and thus by therotation of the said rod its threaded ends will be caused to travel inthe sockets 32 32", secured, respectively, to the arms 27 and 30 toincrease or diminish the distance between the said arms.

The stitch-forming implements must be properly adj usted and timedrelatively to each other and where necessary are preferably bent an(slabbed that they may better engage the threads or loops to properlyperform their respective functions-aa for example, it is found desirableto Vcurve the point of the looper 20 slightly toward the rear, as shownin Fig. 3, that it may properly coact with the looper 2S, and thepointof the latter is shown in Fig. G so .formed as to travel closely tothe needle 19, while the opposite sides of the looper 33 are shown inthe last-named gnre as slabbed to insure the proper coaction be- .tweenthe looper 33 and the looper 2O and the needle 19. It is obvious that inlieu of slabbing the looper 33 for the passage ofthe point of the looper2S the said looper1 may be suitably bent or curved. The exact shape andconstruction of the stitch-forming implements or their sizes are notessential to their IOO IIO

successful operation, as these elements are adapted to be constructed asconditions may demand.

To prevent side play of the looper 33, the lower end 34c of theextension 34b of the longer arm of the angle-lever 34 works in anopening 22c in the work-plate 22 and between a pair of adjustable guides38 39. The guides 38 39 consist of body portions which are adjustablysecured in ways 22d, Fig. 8, formed on the under side of the work-plate22 and extending at right angles to the line of travel of the looper 33.The guides 38 39 are secured by screws 40, the holes 22e in thework-plate 22 through'which they pass being sufficiently large to permitof a slight adjustment, as best shown inA Fig. 8. The confrontingportions of the guides 38 39 are T-shaped, as shown, Figs. '7 and 8, andform guides for the opposite sides of the lower end 34C of theangle-armv 34. Said guides are so set relatively to each other as topermit of the free travel of the arm end 34c between them, but preventany side play, and to enable a fine adjustment of the guides to beeffected one of them is provided with a screw adjustment, preferablyconsisting of a screw 41 of fine pitch threaded in a lug 22fon the underface of the work-plate 22 and having a headed extension 41a engaging ina slot 39,a in the guide 39. The wall 22L at the front side of themachine is cut away, as shown in Fig. 1, to enable the screw 41 to beconveniently reached and manipulated.

The screws 40, which serve to secure the guide 39 to the under side ofthe work-plate 22, also serve to secure a guard 40, Figs. 6 and 8, tothe upper side of the said lworkplate in front of the looper 33 and theoscillating arm carrying the same to protect these parts.

In the machine shown in the drawings portions of the mechanism of afour-motion feed are illustrated, the feed-dog (denoted by thereference-number 42) being supported upon the end of the feed-bar 43,which receives its horizontal motions from a rocking arm 44. It is'supported near its outer end and receives its rising and fallingmovements through an arm 45, the horizontal and vertical movements ofthe feed being imparted, respectively, by eccentrics 46 47, located onthe main shaft 13, as shown in Fig. 2; but as the exact feedingmechanism forms no part of this invention it is thought unnecessary toillustrate and describe the intermediate mechanisms between theeccentrics 46 47 'and the feed proper, it being understood that thestitch-forming implements could be made to operate with any suitableknow feed properly coacting therewith.

The reference numbery 49 denotes the presser-bar, which slidesvertically in the Vhead l2, and the number 50 indicates thepresser-foot, carried at the lower end of the said bar to coact with thefeed. Suitable pressure and lifting mechanisms are provided for thepresser-bamwhich are in the main illustrated in connection with the head12; but as the construction of these features is not essential to thesuccessful working of the stitch forming mechanism no .detaileddescription of the same is necessary.

-The machine is provided with suitable tension devices 52 andthread-guides 53, prop,- erly located to permit the operation ofthreading up the stitch-forming implements to be readily accomplished,and a passage 54 leads from a point at the front side of the cap 12 to apoint in the lower side thereof near the needle-bar for the purpose ofconducting the needle-thread to a point near the needle.

While in the drawings a particular form of overseamingstitch is shown,it I should be noted that by varying the tension of the threads,thelength of the feed,and the relative sizes of the threads stitches ofentirely dierent appearance may be produced.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an overseaming-machine, the combi-- nation of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit; a worksupport, a reciprocating needlebar, aneye-pointed needle and an eye-pointed looper having oppositely-directedpoints both carried by the needle-bar and capable of penetrating thefabric from opposite sides, a second looper beneath thework-supportoscillating in a plane approximately intersecting the axial line of theneedle-bar, a third looper located above thework-support and oscillatingin a plane different from that of the second looper but alsoapproximately intersecting the axial line of the needle-bar, saidoscillating loopers coacting with the needle and looper moving therewithto form a stitch and driving mechanism for said parts; substantially asdescribed.

2. In an overseaming-machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit; a work-support, a vertically-reciprocatingneedle-bar, an eye-pointed ngedle and a looper carried by theneedle-bar, a second looper beneath the work-support moving in a singleplane and coacting with the reciproeating needle and looper carried bythe needle-barand a third looper above the worksupport oscillating in asingle vertical plane diagonal to the vertical plane of movement of theneedle and the looper carried by the needle-bar, whereby said thirdlooper coacts with the needle' at the front side thereof and with thelooper carried by the needle-bar at its rear sideand mechanism foractuating the said needle and loopers; substantially as described.

3. In an overseaming-machine and in com.--

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to move in a plane diagonally to the axisvof the driving-shaft, a loopercarried by said looper-carrier and adapted to coact with theneedle-looper at the rear side thereof and the needle at the front sidethereof above the work-support, an eccentric on the main shaft and auniversal-joint connection between the looper-carrier and the main shafteccentric, substantially as described.

4. In an overseaming-machine the combination with a drive-shaft and awork-support, of stitch-forming implementsincluding a looper and itscarrier-supported above the Work-plate and moving in a single planediagonally to the main shaft andguides between which its lower end issupported laterally and mechanism for actuating the stitch-formingimplements, all being adapted to operate substantially as described.

5. In an overseaming-machine the combination with a drive-shaft, awork-support, of stitch-forming mechanism including a loopercarrieroscillating in a plane diagonally to the main shaft and having theseparable lower end 84 with an extension 34C, guides 38, 39 betweenwhich said extension travels adjustably secured to the work-support andadjusting mechanism for the said guides; substantially as described.

(3. In an overseaming-machine, a frame including a machine-head, aseparable capsecured to the machine-head and a needle-bar supportedtherein, a main shaft journaled in the head, a disk or crank on saidshaft located in a recess in the head and a connecting-link between thesaidcrank and needle-bar conlined at one end between the disk or crankand the cap and at the other end between the needle-bar and the face ofthe said machinehead, all being combined and operatingsubstantially asdescribed.

7. Inanoverseaming-machine,stitch-forming implements including a needleand a looper so arranged that their points are confronting, the looperbeingprovided with a doubled portion below its point forming athread-passage therethrough, a reciproeatory .needle-bal' on which boththe needle vand looper are mounted and mechanism for actuating thestitch-forming implements, combined and operating substantially asdescribed.

8. In an overseaming-machine, a reciproeating needle-bar, an eye-pointed work-penetrating needle and a looper having a doubled lowerportion and an upwardly-extending point somewhat out of alinement withand below the needle-point both carried by said needle-bar,stitch-forming implements coperating with the reciprocating needle andlooper and mechanism for actuating the same and the needle-barsubstantially as described.

9. In an overseaming-machine, stitch-forming implements including aneye-pointed needle arranged with its point downward and an eye-pointedlooper moving in unison therewith, the lower portion of the looper beingdoubled upon itself with its functional portion pointing reversely ofthe needle, the said doubled portion being adapted for the passage ofthread therethrough and mechanism for actuating the stitch-formingimplements all being combined and operating substantially as describedand for lthe purpose set forth.

10. In an overseaming-machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit; an eye-pointed needle and a looper havingtheir ends pointed in opposite directions and out of alinement with eachother, a single reciprocating carrier on whichrboth said needle andlooper are rigidly mounted, a work-support, a looper below and a looperabove the work-support for respectively carrying a loop from the needleto the first-mentioned looper below the work-support and from saidlooper to the needle above the worksupport and actuating mechanism forsaid carrier and loopers; substantially as described.

JOSEPH M. MERROW.

Witnesses:

ALONZO M. LUTHER, MoRToN C. TALoo'r'r.

